Anyway Cafe
“More than once I've consumed a carafe of deceptively easy to drink infused vodka and gone on to all sorts of East VIllage debauchery.”
“Every other Saturday there is a Russian Gypsy band and it is a blast to see them perform.”
“A fantastic small cozy getaway that envelops you with infused vodka and makes for magical evenings.”
Anyway Cafe
Takes Reservations: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
8 reviews
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It's cramped. I've seen them squeeze a 6-top into a table fit for two. And more than once I've had to get extremely creative with my exit from the wall side of the table. (Thank god for yoga.) But somehow this adds to the charm of what feels like a little hideout in the East Village.
There's live music most nights, and you'll find one of the best deals on infused vodkas in town. (I always get the dill. And the horseradish, when I need to put a little hair on my chest.) It's the kind of unique spot that keeps this city great.
This place is odd. I came for an early dinner with the girls and I also missed the entry steps to this place because the waiter decided to sit at the steps and chat with another worker while smoking. When I realized this was the place, I had to tell him "excuse me" so that he would scoot to the side to let me through. He didn't even bother to stand up. When I got in, I was trying to get someone's attention because I was supposed to meet up with friend's friend and wasn't sure if they had already arrived. Then, the guy who was sitting at the steps came in and asked for my reservation. Needless to say, he had cigarette breath.
The place doesn't look like a Russian/French fusion spot. It looked more like a hodge podge Spanish/Mexican restaurant. It's as if they decided to take over someone else's lease but decided that they don't need to redecorate.
Food wise, it was okay. Since one of us is Russian, she recommended what to order to share. We got a few appetizers and entrees. I particularly like the potato pancake, but the portion is quite small and the pancake is quite thin. I wasn't too crazy about the "caviar" that looked more like japanese roe. Call me a novice, but I was envisioning the dark and small caviar. The "caviar" was also very fishy in taste. Again, I'm not a caviar connoisseur so I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.
A good thing about this place is that they had live jazz music later in the evening. The man on the piano was good, but the lady who sang was really good.
Not a place I'm going to be running back, but a decent spot should you be in the area.
Super intimate and cozy spot for great, no-cover live music.
They have entertainment every single night usually from around 9pm to midnight. I've seen artists ranging from rock to samba to jazz, and they're usually quite good.
What's great about this place is the exceptionally cozy atmosphere. It's equally perfect for a date or for a small, intimate group of friends.
Their cocktails pack a punch while still being drinkable. I'm partial to the Katherine the Great, if only for the theatrics you get when they spray both you and the cocktail with rosewater. Haven't tried the food yet but it looks amazing.
Overall, this place always makes me feel at home; come here for a magical vibe and great live music.
We found this place while waiting for a table at another restaurant. It was really empty when we first walked in, so we chose seats to the far left, right by the bar. We soon discovered that was the worst place to sit. The band came in and we had to squeeze next to each other to allow room for them. The place filled up fairly quickly and when the band started playing, you could forget about having a conversation. It's ok though because it was cool just sitting there and listening to them play. Definitely not a good place for a first date or trying to get to know someone. Music gets loud.
We chose three vodka infused shots. The raspberry and black currant tasted like cough syrup, but the lychee shot was pretty good. The chocolate martini was really strong. They do not skimp on vodka here! We also saw them light a sugar cube on fire over a drink. Not sure what that was, but it looked really cool.
Overall, it was nice. It's a cool little place, tucked away.
What a hidden gem.
A friend of mine and I were looking for a cute outdoor space to drink on a Sunday, and stumbled into Anyway Cafe. Their outdoor seating is limited, only three tables or so, but my friend and I went on off hours and had the place to ourselves.
The tiny patio was covered in flower petals which really added to the ambiance. Any type of infused vodka that you could ever want to try is available at Anyway Cafe. My friend tried their bloody mary, made with beet infused vodka, which was out of this world, and I ordered their vodka version of a mojito which was also solid.
The drinks are a little bit on the pricer side – around $12 a cocktail. We didn't try their food, but the menu looked like it had a decent selection of small bites.
My only complaint was that they were cash only, which was only noted by a very small sign placed way in the back of the space. Make sure you bring your dollars!
I came here on a Saturday night, and it was probably one of the most memorable nights EVER.
You walk in, and it doesn't seem like that much – it's cozy, New York-style. But the ceiling is made of leaves, and the Russian food is comforting, warm, and filling.
We had some delicious martinis (my friend got the rose flavored one, and they mist it when they bring it to you), and as our dining was winding down, the band came out. Funnily enough, they were Spanish, and they sang Spanish songs (in a Russian restaurant?!).
A group of people from Spain came in and began singing along – the couple next to us (from Iceland and Britain) started slinging vodka shots and dancing. Everyone began toasting each other and chatting across the tables.
It was really fun – more entertaining, interesting, and friendly than any night out I've had recently. Go and make new friends and lasting memories!
I am a huge fan! Food and drinks are good. Owners are super friendly. Sometime the Russian owner sings Edith Piaf which is kind of funny. Eastern European beers are great too.
The only reason why I am not putting a 5/5 it is because I always got mosquitoes bites when I'm on the patio. Maybe they should put some special candles. I will definitely come back very often with my friends hehe
This place is great! Small, intimate, yet gets lively and fun when the live music starts. I got the lamb and potatoes. It was good, but not great. The desert crepes were excellent though, I could eat those all day long and start up all over again the next day. In my opinion, this place is more about the atmosphere. Stick around and have drinks after the meal – you're sure to have a good time!